Elizaveta Shanaeva/Devid Naryzhnyy of Russia captured a narrow lead in the Junior Rhythm Dance as the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships continued in Tallinn (EST) on Thursday. Georgia’s ISU Junior Grand Prix Final champions Maria Kazakova/Georgy Reviya (GEO) and Avonley Nguyen/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) are close behind in second and third place.
Elizaveta Shanaeva and Devid Naryzhnyy lead the Ice Dance in Tallin 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Performing to “Bonnie and Clyde”, Shanaeva/Naryzhnyy put out a dynamic dance that was highlighted by fast twizzles, precise steps and a rotational lift. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists picked up a level four for the Tea Time Foxtrot Pattern Dance, the twizzles and the lift to achieve a new personal best of 70.03 points.
“We are very pleased with our performance and with the progress we’ve made since our last competitions,” Shanaeva said. “We wanted to show the maximum as most likely there won’t be any other competitions this season.”
Kazakova/Reviya’s performance to “Beautiful the Carole King” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me” featured a level-four stationary lift, level-four twizzles and a level-four Tea Time Foxtrot Pattern. The Georgians posted a personal best of 69.98 points.
“We tried to give a strong and powerful performance, but not everything worked out, the lift was not perfect. Maybe our emotions got a bit ahead of us,” Reviya said. “It does not matter in which place we are or what the difference in points is. We are always going out to give it our all.”
Maria Kazakova and Georgy Reviya are second after the Rhythm Dance 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
Nguyen/Kolesnik completed two level-four elements in their upbeat dance to “Aladdin”, but the second Tea Time Foxtrot sequence was rated a level two. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists scored 68.27 points.
“To be honest, we are bit disappointed,” Nguyen said. “We left a few points on the table, but now we’ll focus on the Free Dance.”
Kolesnik said: “It hurts to be in third place. We’re going to attack this Free Dance.”
Avonley Nguyen and Vadym Kolesnik are determined to improve in the Free Dance 2020©International Skating Union (ISU)
The 2018 World Junior bronze medalists, Arina Ushakova/Maxim Nekrasov (RUS), came fourth with a dance to “Chicago” (66.97 points) followed by Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin (RUS), who danced to “Aristocats” (66.53). Loicia Demougeot/Theo Le Mercier (FRA) are sixth on 64.88 points.
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